Will Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. Rise 10% or Fall 40%?

We will soon know if Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) will be acquiring Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. (TSX:COS).

| More on:
The Motley Fool

For Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. (TSX:COS) and its shareholders, crunch time has come. The company’s poison pill, meant to thwart a hostile bid by Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU), expired on Monday. And Suncor’s offer expires on Friday.

We take a look below at the different possible outcomes.

1. An acquisition and a slight gain for COS shareholders

Suncor is offering a quarter of its own shares (currently trading at $35.40) for each COS share. Meanwhile, COS shares are trading for $8.05. Based on these numbers, COS shareholders would gain 10% if Suncor’s bid is accepted immediately.

Given the short time frame involved, there’s a clear opportunity for COS shareholders to make a very attractive return. But it’s not a foregone conclusion. Suncor’s bid requires two-thirds of COS shareholders to tender their shares, and some have already indicated their disapproval.

For example, billionaire Seymour Schulich (who owns 5% of COS’s outstanding shares), has referred to Suncor’s bid as a “no-ball offer.” And Burgundy Asset Management, which also owns a large stake in COS, has also publicly denounced the offer.

Meanwhile, COS has aggressively attacked the offer, calling it exploitative, opportunistic, and inadequate. The company claims (correctly) that if oil prices rebound to levels seen two years ago, then Suncor will have effectively stolen COS for pennies on the dollar. And remember, anyone who owns COS is probably very bullish on oil prices.

2. No acquisition and a big loss for COS shareholders

COS claims that in the long run, it would be better off as an independent company. But in the short run, shareholders would get a painful blow.

To help put a number on this, COS traded for just over $6 per share when the Suncor bid was announced in early October. And since then oil prices have fallen by more than 20%.

Because COS is so heavily levered to oil prices, the company’s stock would probably have fallen by more than 15% over this time frame. Thus if the Suncor bid is rejected, a $5 share price is a distinct possibility. That’s a fall of nearly 40%.

3. Another offer? Don’t count on it

When Suncor first launched its bid, investors generally thought a higher bid was coming either from Suncor or from another company. But with oil prices decreasing so much, this outcome is now extremely unlikely. Besides, if another company were interested in buying COS, it would have made an offer by now.

And if Suncor’s bid is rejected, the company has no plans to make a higher offer. Instead, it will simply let COS’s share price collapse. Then the company could simply make another “opportunistic” bid for another troubled oil company.

So if I held COS shares, I would sell them this week before it’s too late. Time is running out.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Benjamin Sinclair has no position in any stocks mentioned.
 

More on Dividend Stocks

edit Woman in skates works on laptop
Dividend Stocks

3 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy Under $30

These three stocks all offer a huge deal for investors looking for dividends, as well as growth that will last.

Read more »

You Should Know This
Dividend Stocks

How to Convert a $300 Monthly Investment Into $338 in Monthly Income

If you want a certain amount in monthly passive income, invest a similar amount today and leave the rest to…

Read more »

Increasing yield
Dividend Stocks

3 Income Stocks With Big Yields to Consider in April 2024

If you haven’t yet made your March investments, here are three income stocks to buy the dip and lock in…

Read more »

Senior Man Sitting On Sofa At Home With Pet Labrador Dog
Dividend Stocks

RRSP Investors: Don’t Miss Out on This Contribution Hack!

This hack has so many benefits for you -- not just when you put it in your RRSP but for…

Read more »

A red umbrella stands higher than a crowd of black umbrellas.
Dividend Stocks

Passive Income: 2 Safe Dividend Stocks to Own for the Next 10 Years

Dividend stocks such as Manulife and Fortis can help you generate a stable and recurring passive-income stream.

Read more »

Young woman sat at laptop by a window
Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend Stocks Everyone Should Own for the Long Haul

For investors looking for top-tier dividend stocks to buy and hold for the long term, here are three of my…

Read more »

Payday ringed on a calendar
Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend Stocks That Pay Me More Than $54.57 Per Month

These three dividend stocks have done me well over the years, so let's look at how much I've gotten in…

Read more »

Golden crown on a red velvet background
Dividend Stocks

Dividend Royalty: 3 Fabulous Stocks to Buy Now for Decades of Passive Income

Rogers Communications stock and Canadian Natural Resources stock could pay you dividends for decades to come.

Read more »